Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect recent developments. Key developments on July 15: * Zelensky dismisses Defense Minister Fedorov * Lockheed Martin supports granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, official says * Total blackout in Kerch, Crimea after Ukrainian drone attack * Russian Mi-28 helicopter downed by Ukrainian drone, Madyar claims * Russian election results unlikely to affect escalation of war but could fuel mobilization, Zelensky says * Russia

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has been offered the role of Ukraine's next defense minister, a lawmaker from the governing Servant of the People party told the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity.

International observers may be surprised by the latest developments in Ukraine. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko was forced to resign after serving less than a year in office. She becomes the third prime minister ousted by President Volodymyr Zelensky, as Ukraine prepares for yet another government reshuffle. So what do we know about Svyrydenko's successor, and what do these changes mean for Ukraine's future? Winter is coming Many Ukrainians recall the 2025-2026 winter with pain. Millions of

"The election results will have no impact on this escalation, because the results will be known before the election," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The U.S. has begun the process of granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles, moving the matter beyond political statements, a senior Ukrainian official familiar with the matter told the Kyiv Independent.

The 21st sanctions package was supposed to be agreed on on July 15, but two EU officials confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Greece was refusing to compromise on its hardline position against proposals to stop EU countries trading LNG to third countries.

“Koretskyi said the government's top priorities would be (social) support for the public, preparing for the upcoming heating season, strengthening the Defense Forces, and protecting critical infrastructure," David Arakhamia, head of President Volodymyr Zelensky's faction, said.

The EU also announced a 10-billion-euro ($11 billion) funding plan for additional drones, missiles, and fighter aircraft for Ukraine.

"There must be no Russian shadow on a banknote honoring the poet whom Russia killed," said Andriy Pyshnyy, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine.

The strikes are part of Ukraine's ongoing effort to isolate occupied Crimea by disrupting the military and commercial infrastructure that sustains the peninsula.

The meeting comes in a week when rumors and speculation that Fedorov could be replaced as defense minister have reached fever pitch.

Cases of drones taking out helicopters were unheard of just two years ago with the first ever recorded case happening on Aug. 6, 2024.

After a sold-out debut in New York, the Kyiv Independent is bringing its live event series to the UK — and we couldn't be more excited to meet our London community in person.

A missile strike on Odesa overnight on July 15 hit a multi-story apartment building, killing three residents and injuring at least six others, regional Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

They also agreed that temporary protection would not be granted to new applicants who are not complying with their military obligations in Ukraine.

Editor’s note: The two OnlyFans models interviewed for this article are referred to by pseudonyms for security reasons. Whenever there's a knock at Velma's door, she immediately fears it's the police. The young Ukrainian woman isn't a drug dealer or Russian spy, but instead a former adult OnlyFans model — a profession that is illegal in Ukraine under its strict anti-pornography laws. Velma initially started as a social media manager for an OnlyFans agency which manages the operations of the mo

"The first round of the maritime battle is over. Now it's the Black Sea," Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces, said on July 15.

The bill would impose tariffs of up to 100% on the top five buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, while granting the U.S. president authority to waive the sanctions "upon a justification and certification to Congress."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she would announce new initiatives to integrate the Ukrainian and European defense industries.

The number includes 1,470 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Two Ukrainian crew members were among those injured when Iranian missiles struck two vessels in the waterway on July 14.

"All information about launches or launch preparations comes to us from our partners. ... No system can be perfect, so failures do occur, and the alert may be delayed," Defense Ministry Advisor Serhii Beskrestnov said.

"During the attack, a hostile drone struck a civilian vessel flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, damaging the ship's superstructure," Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said.

"We are closing the door in the face of the Russians," Hungarian Defense Minister Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky's decision on July 12 to reshuffle the government came as a surprise to many — both on the streets and in the halls of parliament.

"I many times claimed that Moldova is the best student in my class, now I change my rhetoric because it is the best performer in my class," Marta Kos said after Chisinau opened the external relations cluster on July 14.

Key developments on July 14: * 'Revenge is inevitable' — Ukraine sinks Russian border guard ship involved in 2018 Kerch Strait attack * June deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine since April 2022, U.N. says * Ukraine hits 2 Russian oil refineries, 11 vessels in strike spanning hundreds of miles * Head of Ukraine's state-run defense giant steps down week after deadly Vyshneve depot blast * Russian attacks kill 7, injure 78 across Ukraine over past day as Kyiv comes under another ballisti

Ukraine has opened a new front in the Sea of Azov, targeting Russian military and commercial shipping in an effort to isolate Crimea. Early shipping data suggests the campaign may already be disrupting maritime traffic.

The toll surpassed May's already-record civilian casualties, when 282 people were killed and 1,794 injured, and marked a 37% increase compared with June 2025.

There are three things to know about lawmaker Denys Maslov. He chairs parliament's legal policy committee, responsible for overhauling Ukraine's courts. He is widely expected to become the country's next justice minister. And he insists Ukraine's judicial reform is on track. Maslov, who sources say could move from parliament to the cabinet as part of this week's government reshuffle, faces mounting pressure from the European Union to advance judicial reform while fending off sharp criticism f

A Kyiv Oblast court ordered the former commander held without bail over allegations he organized the kidnapping and murder of two brothers. He denied the allegations.

The prospect of Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov being replaced after just six months in office has prompted a largely critical reaction from lawmakers, public figures, and Kyiv residents, while opposition lawmakers and political analysts have suggested that tensions with parliament and President Volodymyr Zelensky may be driving his possible removal.   Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko's unexpected resignation has paved the way for a broader cabinet reshuffle, and Fedorov could be among those